Aeritalia G.222

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"G222" redirects here. For the highway in China, see China National Highway 222.
G.222
C-27A Spartan
DF-ST-98-01305.JPEG
A US Air Force C-27A Spartan out of Howard AFB, Panama
Role Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer Fiat / Aeritalia / Alenia Aeronautica
First flight 18 July 1970
Introduction April 1978
Retired Afghan National Army Air Force 2012
Status In service
Primary users Nigerian Air Force
Tunisian Air Force
Argentine Army Aviation
Produced 1970-1993[1]
Number built 111[1]
Variants Alenia C-27J Spartan

The Aeritalia G.222 (formerly Fiat Aviazione, later Alenia Aeronautica) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The United States purchased a small number of G.222s, designating them the C-27A Spartan.[2][3]

A modernised variant, the Alenia C-27J Spartan, has been developed. While it retains many aspects of the original aircraft, the C-27J adopts the same engines and many of the systems used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.

Development

Origins

In 1962, NATO issued a specification for a V/STOL transport aircraft (NATO Basic Military Requirement 4), capable of supporting dispersed V/STOL fighters. Fiat's design team, led by Giuseppe Gabrielli, produced a design to meet this requirement, designated G.222; it was to be powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines and with six to eight Rolls-Royce RB162 lift engines to give VTOL capability.[4]

None of the submissions resulted in a production contract; however the Italian Air Force (AMI) felt that the Fiat Aviazione proposal had merit, and placed an order for two prototypes and a ground-test airframe in 1968.[5] The G.222 was substantially redeveloped from the NATO submission, the V/STOL lift engines having been omitted completely and the conventional Dart engines replaced by a pair of General Electric T64s;[5] the twin-boom tail featured on the V/STOL concept was also eliminated and replaced by a more conventional single tail configuration; subsequently the new aircraft had no V/STOL capability but retained considerable short take-off/landing (STOL) performance.[6]

On 18 July 1970, the first prototype took the aircraft's maiden flight with test pilot Vittorio Sanseverino at the controls; the Italian Air Force began evaluating the two prototypes in December 1971. Following successful testing, the AMI contract for 44 aircraft was issued to Aeritalia (of which Fiat Aviazione had since become a part).[7] The first production aircraft entered Italian service in April 1978.[8] Following its introduction by the AMI, the G.222 was procured as a tactical transport aircraft by various international customers, including Argentina, Nigeria, Somalia, Venezuela and Thailand.[6]

Further development

A C-27A taxiing at McChord AFB, Washington, 1998

In 1977, Libya sought the purchase of 20 G.222s, this was vetoed by the U.S. Government, who had imposed an embargo on military arms and equipment to Libya, which included the G.222's T64 engines. To get around this restriction, Aeritalia developed a version of the G.222 powered by the Rolls-Royce Tyne engine and other US supplied equipment was replaced by European equivalents; the more powerful Tyne engine also gave this variant superior "hot and high" performance.[9] Libya placed an order for 20 Tyne-powered aircraft instead.[1]

Following Italian humanitarian missions in Bosnia and Somalia, in 1996 the AMI began undertaking a major update program on their G.222 fleet; modifications include compatibility with Night Vision Goggles to enable night operations, increasing the aircraft's self-defense capabilities, new communications and navigation systems, and the removal of obsolete equipment.[6]

In 1990, the United States Air Force selected the G.222 as the basis of a "Rapid-Response Intra-Theater Airlifter" (RRITA). Operated under the designation C-27A Spartan, ten G.222s were purchased and underwent avionics upgrades by Chrysler Aerospace. These aircraft were stationed at Howard AFB, Panama.[10] The USAF would later dispose of their C-27A fleet, partly due to shifting priorities between the Army and the Air Force and partly because of the impending introduction of a newer variant, the Alenia C-27J Spartan.[11]

Design

Italian Air Force Alenia G.222RM radio and radar calibration aircraft, 2005

The G.222 is a twin turboprop-engine tactical military transport aircraft, and is designed to be capable of transporting equipment or troops in combat zones and operating with minimal ground support.[6] Due to features such as double-slotted flaps, stacked brakes, and reversible propellers,[12] the G.222 has excellent short landing capabilities and is able to land in as little as 1,800 feet.[13] As the G.222 has austere maintenance requirements and is able to operate from short, rough airstrips in remote regions, it has been heavily used in humanitarian missions across Africa, Europe and Central America.[6]

The G.222's cargo deck can carry up to 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of cargo or up to 53 troops;[14] additionally, it can be outfitted to perform medevac operations; other specialist equipment can be added, such as for the signals intelligence role.[13] The cargo deck has a large rear ramp, allowing the loading of palletised goods and vehicles, as well as doors to the sides capable of deploying paratroopers.[15] The height of the landing gear can be manually controlled to easily facilitate the loading of various cargos.[16]

The cockpit provides excellent external visibility for pilots, most of the key controls are centrally-placed between the two pilots.[6] Some aircraft were fitted with refuelling probes and appropriate equipment to support aerial refuelling.[16] Some Italian G.222s have been equipped with a self-protection suite, which uses multiple forms of sensors to warn against identified threats, this suite also includes several countermeasures such as chaff and flare dispensers.[16]

Operational history

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Afghan Air Force C-27A, 2010

The G.222 has seen considerable service in air relief and military supply operations. From 1979 onwards, Italy, along with other Western nations, provided considerable military aid to Somalia, part of the Italian contribution was four G.222s.[17] In 1982, three Ejército Argentino G.222s were operational during the Falklands War, and may have participated in a logistical capacity.[18] In 1983, a single Italian Air Force G.222 was outfitted for fire suppression duties, alongside an existing C-130 in the same role.[19]

On 3 September 1992, an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) G.222 was shot down when approaching Sarajevo airfield, while conducting a United Nations relief mission. It crashed 18 miles (29 km) from the airfield; a NATO rescue mission was aborted when 2 USMC CH-53 helicopters came under small arms fire. The cause of the crash was determined to be a surface-to-air missile, but it was not clear who shot it. Everyone on board - four Italian crew members and four French passengers - died in the crash.[20][21] In 2005, the Italian Air Force officially retired their fleet of G.222s; they were replaced by a newer variant, the C-27J, which had originally been due to enter service in 2001.[22][23]

In September 2008, Alenia North America was awarded a USAF contract to upgrade and refurbish 18 G.222s, to be transferred to and used by the Afghan Air Force and Afghan National Army Air Corps. Ballistic protection, adaptations for serving in the conditions of Afghanistan, and many new avionics systems, including a digital auto-pilot, were installed; two aircraft were also configured for VIP transport duties.[22][24] In January 2013, the USAF decided not to renew the support contract for the Afghan fleet due to claimed servicability issues and operational difficulties; Alenia responded, stating that the fleet was exceeding the requirements laid out by the USAF, with 10-12 aircraft available for operations against the requirement for six.[25] The 16 G.222s delivered to Afghanistan were scrapped in the summer of 2014 by the Defense Logistics Agency.[26] After the U.S. spent $486 million to buy 20 C-27As, 16 were sold as scrap to an Afghan construction company for about $32,000; the planes were scrapped "to minimize impact on drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan." The four remaining aircraft are stored at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, with the U.S. seeking other interested buyers. From January to September 2012, the Afghan C-27A fleet flew only 234 out of 4,500 required hours.[27]

Variants

G.222TCM 
Initial designation, two prototypes for the Italian Air Force[1]
G.222A 
Standard transport version for the Italian Air Force
G.222RM 
(Radiomisura - "radio measurements")- radio/radar calibration aircraft
G.222SAA 
(Sistema Aeronautico Antincendio - "aeronautical fire-fighting system") - fire-fighter equipped for dumping water or fire retardant chemicals. Four built for Italian Air Force.
G.222T 
Version powered by the Rolls-Royce Tyne for the Libyan Air Force. Sometimes designated G.222L.[1]
G.222VS 
(Versione Speciale - "special version") ECM version - two built for Italian Air Force. Sometimes designated G.222GE.[1]
C-27A Spartan 
Ten G.222s purchased for the United States Air Force.[1]
C-27J Spartan 
See Alenia C-27J Spartan.

Operators

Italian Air Force G.222A at RIAT 2009
A Royal Thai Air Force G.222 during an emergency evacuation exercise at COBRA GOLD '01, with a US Army UH-60Q Black Hawk MEDEVAC helicopter
 Afghanistan
  • Afghan National Army Air Force has received several former Italian Air Force G.222s under a USAF contract.[28] Following upgrades by Alenia, deliveries began in 2009. By December 2012, 16 aircraft had been delivered; the USAF canceled the contract then because of lack of maintenance support from Alenia[25][29] and scrapped them in summer of 2014.[26]
 Argentina
 Italy
  • Italian Air Force operated 52 aircraft (42 G.222A/TCM, 4 G.222RM, 5 G.222SAA and 1 G.222VS). Officially retired in September 2005, but at least 1 G.222VS aircraft remains operational.[32][33]
 Libya
 Nigeria
  • Nigerian Air Force received 5 aircraft during 1984-85. Alenia Aeronautica is updating these aircraft. 1 ex-Italian Air Force aircraft ordered in 2008.
 Peru
 Somalia
 Thailand
 Tunisia
 United Arab Emirates
 United States
 Venezuela

Specifications (G.222)

File:DF-ST-98-01304.JPEG
C-27A Spartan in flight, 1995

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[14]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Four - commander, co-pilot, radio-operator/flight engineer on flightdeck, loadmaster
  • Capacity: 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of cargo, 53 troops or 36 litters
  • Length: 22.70 m (74 ft 5½ in)
  • Wingspan: 28.70 m (94 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 9.80 m (32 ft 1¾ in)
  • Wing area: 82.0 m² (893 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 14,590 kg (32,165 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 28,000 kg (61,730 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T64-GE-P4D turboprop, 2,535 kW (3,400 shp) each

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Janes 2005, p. 421.
  2. ↑ Donald (2000). p. 426.
  3. ↑ Frawley (2002). p. 44.
  4. ↑ Air International April 1977, pp. 163-164.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Air International April 1977, pp. 164, 166.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Evangelisti, Spinoni and Jones 1999, p. A11-2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NATO_A113" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ Air International April 1977, pp. 167-168.
  8. ↑ Taylor 1988, p.143.
  9. ↑ Air International April 1979, pp. 170-173.
  10. ↑ Donald and Lake 1996, p. 29.
  11. ↑ McGowen 2012, p. 485.
  12. ↑ Norton 2002, p. 6.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Schading 2011, p. 279.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Taylor 1988, pp. 143-144.
  15. ↑ Evangelisti, Spinoni and Jones 1999, pp. A11-2.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Girolami and Quadro 2006, p. 1-3.
  17. ↑ Humphrey 2007, p. 66.
  18. ↑ Braybrook 1982, p. 8.
  19. ↑ Tran Van Nao 1982, p. 121.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Roll-out of the first G.222 aircraft, refurbished and modernized with systems and avionics, at Alenia Aeronautica's Capodichino plant". Defense & Aerospace Week, 22 July 2009.
  23. ↑ "The Italian Air Force is to buy 12 C-27J Spartan medium tactical transport aircraft to replace its fleet of G.222 transports, becoming the first customer for the Lockheed Martin/Alenia Aerospazio C-27J". Interavia Business & Technology, 1 December 1999.
  24. ↑ Kington, Tom. "First Refurbished G.222 Ready for Afghan Air Force". DefenseNews.com. Army Times Publishing Company, 6 July 2009. Retrieved: 6 July 2009.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Osborne, Anthony and Amy Butler. "U.S. Air Force Halts Troubled Afghan Air Force Transport Deal." Aviation Week, 4 January 2013.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Sopko, John F. Letter to Charles T. Hagel, Secretary of Defense, 3 October 2014. Retrieved: 10 October 2014.
  27. ↑ DLA junks multimillion planes for Afghan Air Force, sells scrap for 6 cents a pound - Militarytimes.com, 9 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ "First Refurbished G.222 Ready for Afghan Air Force". AirForces Monthly, 27 September 2010. Retrieved: 27 September 2010.
  30. ↑ Alenia G.222 image on Argentine military site
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ aeroflight
  33. ↑ aeromedia
  34. ↑ http://www.wings-aviation.ch/11-RTAF/200-Aircraft/Alenia-G-222/Transport.htm
Bibliography
  • "Two Twenty Two - Aeritalia's Airlifter". Air International. April 1977, Vol 12 No. 4. pp. 163–170, 202.
  • "An Italian Mini-Hercules:The Versatile Two-Twenty-Two". Air International, April 1979, Vol 16 No. 4. pp. 170–173, 197-98.
  • Baybrook, Roy. Battle for the Falklands (3): Air Forces, Osprey Publishing, 1982. ISBN 0-8504-5493-X.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Donald, David and Lake, Jon. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Single Volume Edition. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-874023-95-6.
  • Eden, Paul, ed. "Alenia G222 and C-27, Mini-Hercules". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9.
  • Endres, Günter and Michael J. Gething. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. HarperCollins UK, 2005. ISBN 0-0071-8332-1.
  • Evangelisti, Gianluca., Maurizio Spinoni., and Patrick F. Jones. "Enhancing Tactical Transport Capabilities: Cockpit Evolution from G222 to C-27J". NATO Research and Technology Organisation, April 1999.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Girolami, Claudio and Mauro Quadro. C-27J Spartan: Paratroops and Loads Airdrop Qualification. Alenia Aeronautica, October 2006.
  • Humphrey, James Harry. Issues In Contemporary Athletics. Nova Publishers, 2007. ISBN 1-5945-4595-2.
  • McGowan, Sam. Anything, Anywhere, Anytime: Tactical Airlift in the Us Army Air Forces and Us Air Force from World War II to Vietnam. AuthorHouse, 2012. ISBN 1-4685-0563-7.
  • Norton, Bill. STOL progenitors: the technology path to a large STOL transport and the C-17A. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2002. ISBN 1-5634-7538-3.
  • Schading, Barbara. A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military: A Comprehensive Reference to the Customs, Language and Structure of the Armed Forces. Writer's Digest, 2011. ISBN 1-5996-3331-0.
  • Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
  • Tran Van Nao. Forest Fire Prevention and Control. Springer, 1982. ISBN 9-0247-3050-3.

External links

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